Constitution  and  By  -  Laws 


OF  THK         •        1  y  ^•L-iv.  ' 

^  P2097 

NEW  YORK. 


ASSOCIATION. 

James  C.  Carlyle,  President,  L321  3rd  Ave. 
Theodor  Nones,  Vice  Pres't,  168  E.  117th  St. 
Peter Sfrague, Cor. Secy  & Treas., 351  VV  ;)8th  St. 


NEW  YOI\K. 

J.  Dvx,  Printer,  666  Eighth  Avenue,  near  42nd  Street. 


DURST 


-  THE  NEW  YOR1 

C onstiiution  and  By- Laws 


OF  THE 


ASTCR,  LENOX  AND 


NEW  YORK 


245 


1!  f 


ASSOCIATION 


James  C.  Carlyle,  President,  1321  3rd  Ave. 
Theodor  Nones,  Vice  Pres't,  1G3  E.  117th  St. 

Peter  Sprague,  Cor.  Sec'y  &  Treas.,  351  W  38th  St. 

 «BMK —  ■  


NEW  YOF^K. 

J.  Dux,  Printer,  663  Eighth  Avenue,  near  42nd  Street. 
18  7  7. 


C'j»JtC5 


FORM  OF  A  BEQUEST 

TO  THE 

$w  %**k         if'M  d|wi  ^$s0^tatt0ti. 


I  bequeath  to  my  executors  the  sum  of  dollars 

in  trust,  to  pay  over  the  same  to  the  person  who,  when 
the  same  shall  be  payable,  shall  act  as  Treasurer  to  the 
"New  York  Adult  Blind  Aid  Association,"  to  be  applied 
to  the  charitable  uses  and  purposes  of  the  said  Association 
and  under  its  direction: 


STATEMENT. 

Monies  appropriated  and  donations  made  for  the 
*  benefit  of  the  blind.  The  way  these  funds  have  been 
expended  and  the  manner  in  which  the  beneficiary 
trust  lias  been  executed. 

PREFACE. 

It  is  an  establi  >hedfact  that  no  class  of  our  citizens 
have  received  more  recognition  by  State  govern- 
ments and  charitable  individuals  than  the  blind,  and 
that  no  class  are  so  poorly  succord  and  badly  pro- 
tected. 

In  all  ages  and  among  all  civilized  nations  this 
unfortunate  class  have  been  the  subject  of  thought 
and  charitable  action  by  earnest  and  true  phil  m- 
thropists,  see'dng  the  good  of  these  unfortun  ites 
only,  as  well  as  by  hypocritical  and  designing  men, 
seeking  their  own  personal  aggrandizement  (incre- 
dible as  it  miy  appear).  Trusting  however  that  the 
eyes  of  the  generous  and  charitable  portion  of  the 
public  may  be  opened  to  the  truth  and  to  the  best 
interest  of  the  unfortunate  blind  of  this  community, 
and  thereby  be  protected  against  swindles  in  the 
name  of  charity,  we  submit  the  following  statement, 
which  we  believe  to  contain  facts  never  published 
before,  and  we  most  earnestly  solicit  the  philanthro- 
pic, and  humane  to  give  this  subject  the  attention 
it  deserves.  Should  further  proof  be  required,  the 
New  York  Adult  Blind  Aid  Association  can  furnish 
sufficient  to  convince  the  most  skeptical.  It  is  gener- 
ally believed  that  no  class  of  our  afflicted  people  are 
better  cared  for  than  the  blind;  the  reverse  of  this, 
however,  is  true,as  these  pages  willfully  demonstrate. 

The  New  York  Institution  for  the  Blind,  situ- 
ated on  9th  Avenue,  bet  33rd  and  34th  Streets,  was 
j  founded  by  Dr.  JohnS.Eoss  and  incorporated  about 


—4— 


1831.  The  propei  ty  was  given  to  him  by  a  bene- 
volent gentleman,  by  the  name  of  James  Bowman, 
10  years  for  nothing,  with  the  privilege  of  buying 
it  for  $10,000  at  the  expiration  of  that  term,  when 
the  managers  effected  the  purchase.  Through  mis- 
management and  other  causes  this  institution  has 
been  reduced  to  a  mere  boarding  school  for  the  edu- 
cation of  the  blind,  averaging  about  150  pupils  annu- 
ally. The  course  of  instruction  is  from  5  to  7  years. 

The  State  pays  annually  to  this  institution  $300 
per  capital  for  support  and  education.  The  county 
from  which  the  pupil  comes  pays  $60  annually  for 
clothing.  Since  the  commencement  of  this  institu- 
tion it  has  cost  the  State  and  Counties  upwards  of 
$3,000,000;  besides  hundreds  of  thousands  of  dollars 
have  been  received  as  donations  and  legacies  from 
charitable  individuals.  The  income  ofth  is  vast  appro- 
priation, judiciously  invested,  would  be  sufficient  to 
support  in  comfort  all  the  indigent  blind  of  this 
IState,  whereas  only  a  small  percentage  are  recipients 
of  any  benefit  there  from  —  and  all  su  ch  receive 
is  an  education,  which,  when  they  leave  the  insti- 
tution, rarely  if  ever  proves  any  practical  benefit  in  J 
earning  a  livelihood.  Besides,  they  can  be  instructed 
as  well  in  our  public  schools. 

In  1837  James  Bowman,  of  this  city,  a  wealthy 
and  benevolent  gentleman,  sold  to  the  managers  of 
this  institution  two  acres  of  ground  on  theWest  Side 
of  8th  Avenue,  for  10,000  dollars,  on  condition  it 
should  be  retained  for  50  years  and  used  exclusively  | 
for  the  support  and  benefit  of  the  blind. 

In  1848  the  managers  represented  to  the  Legis- 
lature that  the  institution  would  be  of  little  use. 
unless  there  was  a  manufacturing  department  con- 
nected with  it,  as,  when  the  pupils  learned  their 
trades,  they  could  not  obtain  employment  in  shops 


— 5— 


where  seeing  people  arc  employed,  and  could  not 
start  business  themselves;  for  the  want  of  capital; 
and  if  they  could  they  would  not  be  able  to  compete 
with  seeing  labor.  The  Legislature,  seeing  the  justice 
of  their  request,  donated  to  them  the  sum  of  .$8,000, 
provided  they  would  raise  an  equal  sum  by  subssrip- 
tion.  which  they  did  and  erected  the  required  addi- 
tional buildings  on  the  land  purchased  as  aforesaid, 
and  commenced  operations  with  about  eighty  in- 
mates. The  first  two  years  they  fell  in  arrears  a  little 
over  $1,000.  The  managers  feeling  sure  of  success, 
applied  to  the  Legislature  for  $15,000,  which,  with 
a  like  sum  raised  by  subscription,  they  expended  in 
el  ecting  three  houses  on  the  north  and  south  sides 
j  of  the  main  building,  thus  occupying  the  whole  block. 
The  stores  were  rented,  and  the  money  realized 
therefrom  was  placed  in  a  sinking  fund  for  the  be- 
nefit of  the  factory. 

Now  when  this  whole  block  of  buildings  was  com- 
pleted and  became  very  valuable :  the  manufacturing 
department  at  once  began  to  fall  in  arrears.  In  a 
short  time  these  arrears  amounted  to  about  $6  000 
per  annum,  which  caused  the  majority  of  the  blind 
workmen  to  be  discharged,  only  twenty  or  twenty- 
five  of  them  remaining,  who  only  had  f^.iployment 
at  intervals. 

In  1859  the  managers  obtained  permission  from 
the  Legislature  to  sell  all  or  a  portion  of  this  valu- 
able property  (Laws  1859,  page  629),  under  the 
pretext  that  the  health,  culture  and  improvement 
of  the  blind  required  more  room,  larger  grounds  and 
pure  air,  and  also  upon  the  ground  that  the  manu- 
facturing department  was  a  failure,  owing  to  tne 
fact  that  the  articles  manufactured  by  the  blind 
were  inferior  to  those  produced  by  seeing  labor. 
This  property,  consisting  of  the  8th  Avenue  buil- 


— 6— 


dings,  was  sold,  pursuant  to  said  act,  for  $160,000, 
from  which  the  blind  received  no  benefit  whatever. 
With  this  vast  turn,  about  sixteen  years  ago.  they 
purchased  thirty-five  acres  of  ground  in  Fort  Wash- 
ington, for  the  ostensible  purpose  of  erecting  an 
institution  large  enough  to  accommodate  all  the 
blind.  The  managers  have  since  sold  five  acres,  con- 
sisting of  the  most  valuable  building  lots  on  this 
property,  demonstrating  that  the  purchase  of  this 
property  was  a  speculation,  and  that  their  pretext 
was  a  mere  fabrication  for  they  have  buta  few  more 
inmates  now  than  they  had  at  that  time  and  less 
ground,  and  yet  they  continue  to  accept  donations 
from  private  individuals,  and  we  are  credibly  in- 
formed that  they  received  legacies  last  year  to  the 
amount  of  over  twenty-thousand  dollars. 

These  legacies  are  of  no  benefit  to  the  pupils,  who 
receive  no  better  food  or  clothing,  as  the  State  makes 
ample  provision  for  each  inmate,  and  the  public 
should  definitely  understand  that  they  are  well  pro- 
vided for,  while  in  the  institution. 

This  institution  is  the  wealthiest  in  the  State,  being 
estimated  at  over  one  million  dollars.  What  they 
propose  to  do  with  their  vast  property,  or  in  what 
other  way.  they  intend  to  impose  upon  the  State  and 
the  charitable  public,  time  alone  will  tell.  Thus  we 
see  that  the  industrious  blind  were  turned  out  of 
their  workshops  and  their  homes,  to  enable  the 
managers  of  said  institution  to  speculate  in  real 
estate  —  all  in  the  name  of  charity  —  thereby  illus- 
trating the  old  saying:  "unto  him  that  hath  it  shall 
be  given;  but  unto  him  that  hath  not  it  shall  betaken 
away  even  that  which  he  hath." 

In  1862  the  Legislature  granted  a  charier  to  the 
"Blind  Mechanics7  Association,"  and  appropriated 
$10,000,  conditional  that  the  managers  should  raise 


a  like  sum.  Tiicy  made  several  attempts  to  obtain 
the  money  from  the  Common  Council  of  this  city, 
but  were  unsuccessful  until  1864,  when  the  city 
appropri  ited  the  sum  of  $10,000.  The  $20,000  thus 
obtained  became  a  bone  of  contention. 

In  1867,  the  Charter  of  this  Association  was  am- 
ended and  the  managers  obtained  from  the  city  a 
lease  of  the  premises  No.  432  West  36th  Street,  at 
an  annual  rental  of  one  dollar,  so  long  as  it  was 
occupied  for  the  benefit  of  the  blind.  They  com- 
menced work,  employing  at  intervals  from  twenty- 
five  to  thirty-five  blind  mechanics'.  They  were  un- 
able to  supply  them  with  work  more  than  one  half 
the  time,  and  when  employed,  they  averaged  two 
dollars  and  fifty  cents  per  week.  This  Association 
continued  about  eight  years,  when,  for  want  of 
money,  it  was  forced  to  suspend  business.  While  in 
operation,  it  received  from  this  State  and  City  the 
sum  of . $71,000,  out  of  which  the  blind  received 
about  $25,000  in  the  form  of  wages;  what  became 
of  the  balance,  we  have  never  been  able  to  ascertain. 
It,  however,  establishes  the  fact  that  blind  manu- 
facturing is  of  no  benefit  to  the  blind  whatever,  and 
we  hope  that  another  one  will  never  be  established, 
as  the  managers  thought  "we  were  strangers  and 
took  us  in." 

Another  impediment  sprung  up  in  our  way  about 
the  year  1868,  a  clergyman  by  the  name  of  Eastburn 
Benjamin,  making  use  of  the  unfortunate  blind,  (we 
believe  for  his  own  benefit)  stated  that  he  was  going 
to  have  a  home  for  all  the  blind  in  Christendom  and 
also  a  church  of  the  Holy  Light  for  their  spiritual 
benefit.  He  commenced  operations  by  hiring  a  house 
at  the  corner  of  57th  Street  and  2nd  Avenue,  at 
$3,500  per  annum,  where  he  took  in  about  40  in- 
mates, most  of  whom  had  to  pay  their  board.  About 


— 8— 


this  time  he  issued  circulars  to  the  public,  that  he 
had  about  700  blind  in  New  York  and  in  its  vicinity 
under  his  care;  and  soliciting  means  of  the  chari- 
table to  assist  him  in  his  good  work.  The  public- 
failing  to  respond  as  liberally  as  he  expected,  he 
was  forced  to  remove  into  a  smaller  house.  He  then 
hired  one  on  7th  Avenue,  between  40th  and  4Jst 
Streets,  which  only  accommodated  about  twenty- 
two  inmates.  After  occupying  this  house  for  a  year, 
with  the  assistance  of  some  new  managers  purchased 
the  brown  stone  front  house  No.  219  West  14th 
Street  for  $35,000.  which  accommodates  about  35 
inmates,  who,  if  able  or  having  friends, are  compelled 
to  pay  their  board.  This  is  done  in  the  face  of  the 
fact,  that  the  institution  is  constantly  in  receipt  of 
large  donations  from  charitable  individuals,  as  well 
as  an  annual  appropriation  from  this  city  out  of  the 
exciseiund.  It  claims  to  be  a  society  for  the  relief 
of  all  the  destitute  blind  in  New  York  and  its  vi- 
cinity, and  yet,  when  aged  blind  make  application 
for  admission,  they  tell  them  that  the  poor  house  is 
the  proper  place  for  them. 

So  thev  acted  in  the  case  of  Mrs.  Carl,  of  605  1st 
Avenue,  who  was  recommended  to  us  and  whom  we 
assisted  as  far  as  our  limited  means  would  allow. 
They  say  in  their  last  annual  report  that  they  re- 
ceived §811.00  for  board  of  their  inmates,  whilst  we 
are  credibly  informed  they  received  over  81,000'  If 
they  are  honorable  managers,  wiry  do  they  wish  to 
delude  the  public  by  their  false  reports?  Now  there 
are  about  400  destitute  bjind  in  the  city  of  New  York 
and  only  35  in  this  so  called  home.  This  institution 
bids  fair  to  become  one  of  the  greatest  impediments 
to  the  interests  and  prosperity  of  the  out-door  in- 
dustrious blind,  with  its  forty  lady  managers  and 
twelve  trustee's  —  in  all  52  managers  and  only  35 


--9— 


inmates  to  support,  although  it  is  misrepresented  to 
the  non-examining  public  to  afford  a  home  for  all 
the  blind.  What  charity  can  we  expect  to  receive 
from  the  generous  and  humane,  while  such  abuses 
continue  to  exist  ?  "And  1  will  be  eyes  for  the  Blind", 
saith  the  Lord. 

TVe  have  endeavored  in  the  foregoing  pages  to 
truly  and  briefly  represent  to  the  public  the  way  in 
which  the  State  and  City  appropriations  andprivate 
donations  which  for  years  1  ave  been  generously 
made  for  the  benefit  of  the  blind,  have  been  ex- 
pended, and  to  what  extent  the  supposed  recipients 
were  benefited  thereby.  We  firmly  believe  that 
many  individuals  have  used  our  affliction  as  a 
Stepping  stone  to  position  power  and  personal  ag- 
grandizement and  have  been  instrumental  in  repre- 
senting to  the  public  that  the  blind  are  well  cared 
for  and  bountifully  provided  for  by  these  institutions. 

In  the  year  1875,  about  twelve  blind  persons  met 
in  Peter  Sprague's  brush  shop,  preliminary  to  or- 
ganizing an  association  for  the  mutual  interest  and 
protection  of  the  industrious  and  worthy  out-door 
blind  of  this  city.  They  accomplished  their  object 
and  obtained  from  the  ''Blind  Mechanics'  Association 
the  right  to  use  the  upper  portion  of  its  premise' 
for  a  meeting  room  and  for  the  use  of  the  janitors 
a  blind  man  and  a  member. 

On  the  9th  of  May  1877  we  were  duly  chartered 
under  the  Laws  of  this  State  by  the  name  of  the 
"New  York  Adult  Blind  Aid  Association."  Its  object 
is  charitable  and  benevolent :  affording  relief  to  all 
worthy  blind  in  distress.  Each  member  is  allowed 
three  dollars  per  week  during  sickness  and,  in  case 
of  death,  receives  Christian  burial.  Since  we  started, 
we  have  granted  loans  to  the  worthy  blind  for  the, 
purpose  of  enabling  them  to  purchase  stock  for  pedd 


—10— 


ling,  and  we  have  never  turned  a  deaf  ear,  to  those  in 
distress,  when  duly  reported.  When  we  obtained 
possession  of  the  building  we  now  occupy,  it  was  in 
a  dilapidated  condition  and  almost  untenantable  at 
great  expense  we  repaired  it,  so  that  it  is  now  dry, 
clean  and  comfortable.  Our  meeting  room  is  fitted 
up  with  seats  to  accommodate  150  persons.  We 
hold  our  meetings  regularly  once  a  month  and  have 
eighty  members  upon  our  roll.  If  we  can  obtain  a 
lease  of  some  suitable  building  from  the  City,  we 
will  fit  up  part  of  it,  to  supply  lodgings  for  those 
of  the  worthy  blind  who  have  no  homes.  Such  lod- 
gings are  very  much  needed,  as  no  provision  is  made 
in  any  of  the  free  lodging  houses  in  this  City  for 
our  unfortunate  class. 

The  question  is  often  asked:  "In  what  way  can 
the  greatest  good  be  accomplished  for  the  blind?" 
We  most  emphatically  answer:  Establish  a  non- 
sectarian  State  home  for  the  blind,  free  from  the 
control  of  mock-philanthropists  or  private  indivi- 
duals, and  directly  under  the  control  and  super- 
vision of  State  authority.  Allow  a  moderate  sum 
from  the  annual  appropriation  to  such  institution 
to  each  blind  person  who  endeavors  to  earn  a  living 
by  honest  industry.  Hundreds  would  avail  them- 
of  such  a  shelter,  and  our  streets  and  highways 
would  be  free  from  unfortunate  blind  beggars.  Com- 
plaints against  them  would  cease;  money  appro- 
priated or  donated  for  the  benefit  of  the  blind  would 
be  judiciously  expended,  and  our  afflicted  class  would 
be  cared  for  and  protected  We  earnestly  desire  the 
co-operation  of  all  humane  and  charitable  citizens 
in  this  needed  reform,  trusting  that  they  will  assist 
this  movement  to  be  inaugurated  the  coming  fall. 
Should  any  person  desire  further  information  or 
wish  to  assist  us  in  any  way,  they  will  please  com- 


—11— 


municate  with  Peter  Sprague,  our  corresponding 
Secretary,  No.  351  West  38th  Street,  or  send  direct 
to  the  "New  York  Adult  Blind  Aid  Association," 
No.  432  West  36th  Street,  New  York. 


We  the  members  of  the  above  named  Association 
do  agree  to  adopt  for  our  welfare  and  government  the 
following  By-Laws. 


BY-LAWS. 


ARTICLE  I.— Members. 

Section  1.  All  adult  Blind  persons  shall  be  eligible  to 
membership,  provided  he  or  she  is  of  good  moral  character, 
and  has  been  for  two  years  a  resident  of  the  City  and 
County  of  New  York,  no  sectarian  views  shall  be  a  pre- 
ventative to  membership. 

Section  2.  No  person  can  become  a  member  of  this 
Association,  while  he  or  she  is  an  inmate  of  any  institution, 
whether  public  or  private. 

Section  3.  Any  person  wishing  to  become  a  member  of 
this  Association,  shall  make  application  to  any  member, 
who  shall  report  the  name  and  residence  of  the  applicant 
at  a  regular  meeting,  which  shall  be  entered  on  record  and 
the  subject  referred  to  a  committee  of  three  members, 
appointed  by  the  chair  for  investigation,  who  shall  report 
at  the  next  regular  meeting. 

Section  4.  Any  seeing  person  can  become  an  honorary 
member  of  this  Association  by  the  payment  of  5  dollars 
annually  or  may  become  a  life  member  by  the  payment 
of  $50.00. 


—12— 


Section  5.  All  members  shall  be  elected  by  a  majority 
of  members  present. 

Section  6.  Any  member  leaving  this  city  to  take  up  a 
permanent  abode  in  another  place,  shall  forfeit  his  right 
to  membership  in  this  Association. 

Section  7.  Each  member  shall  pay  an  admission  fee  of 
one  dollar  and  also  the  sum  of  ten  cents  monthly. 

Section  8.  The  Trustees  shall  notify  all  members  who 
are  in  arrears  for  dues  for  5  months ;  and  in  case  such 
members  fail  to  pay  on  the  sixth  month,  they  shall  forfeit 
their  right  of  membership. 

Section  9.  Members  changing  their  place  of  residence 
shall  notify  the  Association  of  such  change  at  the  next 
regular  meeting,  so  that  such  change  may  be  properly 
recorded  on  the  books  of  this  Association. 

Section  10.  Members  who  neglect  to  pay  their  monthly 
dues  within  three  months,  shall  be  suspended,  or  any 
member  through  neglect  of  paying  his  or  her  dues  may 
be  proposed  and  elected  provided  he  or  she  will  agree  t<> 
pay  the  regular  initiation  fee  and  also  to  pay  such  arrears 
of  dues  as  tliere  may  be. 

Section  11.  Each  member  when  speaking  shall  address 
the  presiding  officer. 

Section  12.  All  votes  not  otherwise  provided  for  shall 
be  taken  in  the  usual  manner.  The  yea-  and  nays  upon 
any  question  shall  be  called,  whenever  demanded  by  three 
members. 

Section  13.  No  person  shall  rec/ive  relief  or  aid  from 
this  Association  until  they  have  been  a  member  for 
6  months. 

ARTICLE  II.— Meetings. 

Section  1.  The  regular  meetings  of  this  Association 
shall  be  held  on  the  second  Wednesday  of  each  month, 
at  7  o'clock  P.  M.,  from  the  first  of  October  until  the  first 
of  April,  and  at  half  past  seven  from  the  first  of  April 
until  the  first  of  October.  None  but  members  and  their 
guides  shall  be  admitted  to  the  meetings,  and  every 
member  shall  be  responsible  for  the  orderly  conduct  of 
his  guide.  Any  violation  of  this  rule  shall  be  subject 
to  a  fine  of  2a  cents. 

Section  2.  15  members  shall  constitute  a  quorum  to  do 
business  for  this  Association. 


—13— 


ARTICLE  III.— Officers. 
Section  1.  The  officers  of  this  Association  shall  he  filled 
by  males. 

'Section  2.  This  Association  shall  elect  annually  a  Pre- 
sident, Vice  President.  Treasurer  and  Corresponding 
Secretary,  which  officers  shall  also  become  members  of 
the  Board  of  Trustees.  The  Association  shall  then  pro- 
ceed to  elect  the  remaining  9  members  of  the  Board. 

Section  3.  The  officers  of  this  Association  shall  consist 
of  a  President.  Vice  President,  Treasurer  and  Corre- 
sponding Secretary. 

Sertion  4.  The  nomination  and  election  of  officers  in 
this  Association  shall  take  place  at  the  first  regular 
meeting  in  May  of  each  year.  Whenever  there  are  several 
candidates  voted  for  and  neither  receives  a  majority  of 
all  the  votes  on  the  first  ballot,  the  one  receiving  the  least 
number  of  votes  shall  withdraw  and  so  on,  at  each  suc- 
cessive ballot,  until  one  be  elected  on  the  day  of  election. 

Section  •">.  In  case  of  a  vacancy  in  any  elective  office, 
notice  of  such  vacancy  shall  be  given  at  a  regular  meet- 
ing, and  at  the  next  regular  meeting  an  election  shall  be 
held  to  fill  the  vacancy.  The  person  elected  shall  hold 
the  office  for  the  unexpired  term. 

AKTICLE  IV. — Duties  of  Officers. 

Section  1.  The  Board  of  Trustees  shall  perforin  such 
duties  as  are  prescribed  by  the  By-Laws. 

Section  2.  The  President  shall  preside  at  all  meetings 
of  the  Association  and  preserve  order  and  decorum  therein, 
which  he  may  enforce  by  a  fine  of  not  less  than  25  or  no 
more  than  50  cents.  The  offending  member  shall  stand 
suspended  until  the  fine  be  paid.  All  questions  of  order 
shall  be  subject  to  an  appeal  to  the  Association.  The 
acting  Recording  Secretary  of  this  Association  shall  be 
appointed  by  the  President,  who  shall  instruct  him  with 
regard  to  the  duties  of  his  office. 

Section  3.  The  Recording  Secretary  shall  keep  a  correct 
detail  of  the  proceedings  of  each  meeting  and  enter  the 
same  on  the  books  of  the  Association. 

Section  4.  The  Treasurer  shall  take  charge  of  all 
monies  received  by  this  Association,  and  deposit  the  same 
in  a  bank  for  safe  keeping  the  day  following  the  receipt  of 
the  same,  provided  the  sum  shall  exceed  $25.00.   He  will 


—14— 


also  be  required  to  give  security  for  the  fulfilment  of  his 
duty  to  this  Association  and  make  a  full  report  of  the 
condition  of  the  finances  whenever  desired  to  do  so  by 
the  Association.  The  President  shall  accompany  the 
Treasurer  to  the  Bank  and  have  his  signature  to  theBook. 

Section  5.  The  Corresponding  Secretary  shall  use  his 
best  endeavors  to  increase  the  vitality  and  interest  of  this 
Association  by  communicating  with  friends  abroad  and 
report  the  same  to  the  Association. 

Section  6.  The  Trustees  shall  have  no  right  to  use  any 
money  without  the  consent  of  the  Association,  excern  in 
emergent  cases  which  they  may  act  in  absence  of  the 
Association. 

ARTICLE  V.— Aid  to  Members. 

Section  1.  Any  member  requiring  aid  shall  present  a 
written  application  with  a  doctors  certificate  to  the  Pre- 
sident. In  all  such  cases  a  committee  shall  be  appointed 
to  ascertain,  as  near  as  possible,  the  exact  circumstances 
of  the  applicant.  In  case  the  same  individual  has  been 
assisted  previously  by  this  Association,  they  shall  also 
ascertain  if  such  aid  has  been  judiciously  usea,  and  shall 
make  a  full  report  of  the  case  at  the  next  regular  meeting 
of  the  Association. 

Section  2.  If  any  member  is  sick,  there  shall  be  ;j 
committee  appointed  to  render  all  needful  attention,  and 
there  shall  also  be  such  material  aid  given  as  the  funds 
of  the  Association  will  allow  and  the  circumstances  of  the 
case  require. 

Section  3.  In  case  a  member  in  arrears  of  dues  should 
become  sick,  on  presentation  of  a  doctors  certificate  to 
that  effect,  the  Association  ma}'-  by  a  majority  excuse  the 
payment  of  said  dues  and  such  member  may  be  reinstated 
as  a  member  of  this  Association. 

ARTICLE  VI.— Discipline. 

Section  1.  Each  member  of  this  Association  shall  espe- 
cially avoid  the  use  of  harsh,  insulting  or  abusive  language 
in  debate  at  the  meetings,  and  shall  use  his  or  her  utmost 
endeavors  to  promote  the  interests  and  welfare  of  this 
Association. 

Section  2.  In  all  cases  whore  charges  are  preferred 
against  a  member,  they  shall  be  made  in  writing  and  given 


—In- 


to the  President,  which  charge  shall  be  read  to  the  Asso- 
ciation at  the  next  regular  meeting,  and  the  Board  of 
Trustees  shall  investigate  said  charges,  and  said  Board 
shall  at  their  earliest  convenience  notify  the  accused, 
with  the  name  of  the  accuser  and  time  and  place  of  trial, 
at  least  one  week  previous  to  the  date  of  trial.  The 
Trustees,  after  carefully  and  impartially  considering  the 
the  evidence  against  and  in  favor  of  the  accused,  shall 
report  to  the  Association  at  the  next  regular  meeting,  and 
the  question  shall  be  decided  by  a  majority  vote  of 
members  present. 

ARTICLE  VII.— Committees. 

Section  1.  All  Committees  on  application  for  members- 
hip and  for  relief  or  aid  shall  consist  of  three  members. 

ARTICLE  VIII. — Repeal  or  Amendment  oe  By-Laws. 

Section  1.  No  part  of  these  By-Laws  shall  be  altered, 
amended,  or  repealed,  unless  presented  in  writing  at  a 
regular  meeting,  one  month  previous  to  any  action  being 
taken  thereon  at  the  expiration  of  which  time,  if  a  three 
fourth  vote  should  be  in  favor  thereof,  it  shall  be  adopted. 

ARTICLE  IX. 

All  things  not  stated  in  these  By-Laws  shall  be  dis- 
cretionary with  the  Association. 

Order  of  Business. 

1)  Opening 

2)  Reading  minutes  of  last  meeting. 

3)  Report  of  Committees. 

4)  Payment  of  dues. 

5)  Sickness  or  Distress. 

6)  Communications  read. 

7)  Application  for  membership. 

8)  Balloting  for  Candidates. 

9)  Report  of  Trustees. 

10)  Unfinished  Business. 

11)  Bills  to  be  presented. 

12)  New  Business. 

13)  Closing. 


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